In order to arrest the spread of the viral Monkey Pox disease, Bayelsa State Government has intensified efforts at public enlightenment and civic engagement.

Therefore, the government called on residents of the state to report all suspected cases of the disease by using the following hotlines, 08066987752 and 08035474676 to get the attention of its rapid response team.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in a statement yesterday, said the swift sensitization campaign embarked upon by his ministry on radio with translations in all the local dialects in the state will be sustained.

According to him, the ministry had commenced sensitisation campaign and advocacy visits to communities in the state on the need to reassure the people of government’s intervention and activities in curbing further spread of the disease.

While giving an update of the situation, he disclosed that the government had stopped further spread of the disease, noting that out of the number of those affected and quarantined at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, NDUTH, Okolobiri, many were already showing signs of recovery.

Iworiso-Markson explained that two of the index cases and the doctor affected by the disease had fully recovered and discharged, expressing happiness that so far no death had been recorded.

According to him, “to further allay the fears and reassure Bayelsans of governments’ effort in curbing the disease, let me make it clear that we are on top of the situation. However, it is important for people to take note of the fact that prevention is better than cure. “Hence, they are required to always wash their hands, avoid monkeys, bush meat and dead animals as well as be on the lookout for symptoms, which often manifests as various stages of rash and an intense weakness of the body, severe pains, among other things.”